Drive mechanism for windrow inverters

ABSTRACT

A drive mechanism for a windrow inverter having a crop pick-up mechanism operable to elevate a windrow of crop material from the ground onto a transversely moveable draper conveyor is disclosed wherein the draper conveyor is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor operable to rotate the draper conveyor in opposing lateral directions. The crop pick-up mechanism is driven by a ground drive mechanism. A power transfer device including a movable power transfer gear provides the option of interconnecting the drive mechanisms for the draper conveyor and the crop pick-up mechanism upon disconnection of one of the drive mechanisms. A second movable transfer gear provides another option of mechanically driving the operation of the draper conveyor, in either lateral direction. A wing draper attachment mounted on the frame of the windrow inverter is drivingly coupled to the draper conveyor for rotatable operation therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to crop harvesting machines and, moreparticularly, to a windrow inverter operable to work windrows of cropmaterial lying on the ground.

Windrow inverters, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,125, issuedon Dec. 27, 1988, to Philip J. Ehrhart and Bryant F. Webb, have beenutilized to engage a windrow of crop material lying on the ground,elevate the windrow of crop material, convey the windrow of cropmaterial transversely of its original position on the ground, and invertthe windrow of crop material by passing the windrow through a dischargechute positioned transversely of the cross conveyor. Such a windrowinverter is operable only to transversely shift and invert a windrow ofcrop material, although the windrow inverter embodiment described inU.S. Pat. No. 4,738,092, issuing on Apr. 19, 1988, to Richard E.Jennings, provides for a windrow inverter that can be operable to merelyshift the windrow of crop material to dryer ground laterally to one sideof its original position on the ground.

It has been found desirable that, particularly in light crop conditions,to position two windrows of crop material adjacent to one another,thereby increasing hay volume for future operations, such as baling orother harvesting procedures. Accordingly, it would be desirable toprovide a windrow inverter that would be operable in a selected mannerto laterally shift windrows to either side of the machine to permit adoubling of windrows of crop material beside one another.

Because some tractors used by operators of such windrow inverters arenot equipped with tractor hydraulics, it is also desirable to provide adrive mechanism that would be operable to selectively drive the maindraper conveyor and the pick-up mechanism either hydraulically ormechanically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioneddisadvantages of the prior art by providing a wing extension for awindrow inverter to permit the discharge of a windrow of crop materialoutboard of the windrow inverter to the opposite side of the dischargechute thereof.

It is a feature of this invention that the wing extension attachment ismoveable between a lowered operative position and a raised transportposition.

It is an advantage of this invention that the overall transport width ofthe windrow inverter equipped with a wing extension can be minimized byshifting the wing extension into a raised transport position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a windrow inverterstructure in which the cross conveyor draper is selectively operable totransversely convey a windrow of crop material in either selecteddirection.

It is another advantage of this invention that the wing extensionpermits a windrow of crop material to be discharged outboard of thewindrow inverter wheels.

It is still another advantage of this invention that the wing extensionpermits the windrow of crop material to be deposited adjacent to or ontop of a previously deposited windrow of crop material.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a hydraulicsystem that includes a hydraulic circuit that permits the direction ofoperation of the cross conveyor and wing extension to be selectivelyswitched.

It is another feature of this invention that the windrow inverterincludes a hydraulic drive mechanism which selectively permits thedraper cross conveyor to be operated in either opposing direction.

It is still another object of this invention that the drive mechanismfor the windrow inverter can be selectively positioned to utilize eithera ground drive mechanism or a hydraulic drive mechanism.

It is still another feature of this invention to provide a drivemechanism that is selectively operable to drive the pick-up apparatuseither hydraulically or through a mechanical ground drive.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a hydrauliccircuit that is operable with a tractor having either an open hydraulicsystem or a closed hydraulic system.

It is still another feature of this invention that the hydraulic circuitcan provide different preset speeds of operation of the cross conveyorrelative to the opposing directions of operation.

It is still another advantage of this invention that the hydrauliccircuit includes a valve that is adaptable to both open and closedhydraulic systems without requiring expensive hydraulic components.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a windrowinverter having a cross conveyor draper that is selectively operable toconvey transversely a windrow of crop material in either selecteddirection and to control the speed of operation of the draperindependently of the selected direction of operation.

It is yet another advantage of this invention to provide a windrowinverter having greater operational capabilities than heretofore known.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a latchingmechanism for retaining the wing extension in both the lowered operativeposition and in the raised transport position.

It is still another feature of this invention that the latchingmechanism for the wing extension locks automatically when the wingextension is placed into the transport position.

It is a further advantage of this invention that the latching mechanismcan be adjusted to require a compression thereof to permit a latching ofthe wing extension in the lowered operative position.

It is a further object of this invention to utilize a windrow inverterfor the operation of merging windrows.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a wing extensionfor a windrow inverter which is durable in construction, inexpensive ofmanufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simpleand effective in use.

These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplishedaccording to the instant invention by providing a drive mechanism for awindrow inverter having a crop pick-up mechanism operable to elevate awindrow of crop material from the ground onto a transversely moveabledraper conveyor wherein the draper conveyor is rotatably driven by ahydraulic motor operable to rotate the draper conveyor in opposinglateral directions. The crop pick-up mechanism is driven by a grounddrive mechanism. A power transfer device including a movable powertransfer gear provides the option of interconnecting the drivemechanisms for the draper conveyor and the crop pick-up mechanism upondisconnection of one of the drive mechanisms. A second movable transfergear provides another option of mechanically driving the operation ofthe draper conveyor in either lateral direction. A wing draperattachment mounted on the frame of the windrow inverter is drivinglycoupled to the draper conveyor for rotatable operation therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon considerationof the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a right front prospective view of a windrow inverterincorporating the principles of the instant invention, the wingextension being shown in the raised transport position with the loweredoperative position of the wing extension being shown in phantom as is atransverse extension of the back wall of the windrow inverter;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the windrow inverter with the wingextension positioned in the lowered operative position, the forwardportion of the hitch mechanism being broken away for purposes ofclarity;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along lines 3--3 ofFIG. 2 to show a rear elevational view of the latching mechanisminterconnecting the wing extension and the frame of the windrowinverter, the wing extension being shown in the lowered operativeposition;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 showing arear elevational view of the latching mechanism with the wing extensionbeing moved to the raised transport position.

FIG. 5a is a schematic cross sectional view taken along lines 5--5 ofFIG. 3 showing the relationship of the components of the latchingmechanism with the wing extension in the lowered operative position;

FIG. 5b is a schematic cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5ashowing the movement of the components of the latching mechanism toeffect an unlatching of the wing extension to permit a movement thereoffrom the lowered operative position to the raised transport position;

FIG. 6a is a schematic cross sectional view taken along the lines 6--6of FIG. 4 to show the relative positions of the components of thelatching mechanism with the wing extension being positioned in theraised transport position;

FIG. 6b is a schematic cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 6ashowing the movement of the components of the latching mechanism tounlatch the wing extension to permit movement thereof from the raisedtransport position to the lowered operative position;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 2 toshow the drive mechanism for the windrow inverter pick-up mechanism andcross conveyor, portions of the windrow inverter hitch, the pick-upmechanism, and the latching mechanism being broken away for purposes ofclarity;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 7 toshow a top plan view of the drive mechanism operatively powering thepick-up mechanism, cross conveyor, and wing extension;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the hydraulic circuit forming part of thehydraulic system incorporated in the drive mechanism for the windrowinverter as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the view of FIG. 8 toshow a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a drive mechanismincorporating a pair of movable transfer gears to provide greateroptional configurations of the drive mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 a windrow inverter 10 incorporating theprinciples of the instant invention can best be seen. Any left and rightreferences are used as a matter of convenience and are determined bystanding at the rear of the machine facing the hitch at the forward end,the direction of travel. The details of the windrow inverter frame aredescribed in detail in U.S. Pat. 4,793,125, issuing on Dec. 27, 1988,the descriptive portions thereof being incorporated herein by reference.

The windrow inverter 10 is provided with a frame 12 supported above theground by a pair of transversely disposed ground wheels 13. The frame 12is also provided with a hitch 14 which is adapted in a conventionalmanner for connection to a prime mover, such as a tractor as describedin the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,125. The frame 12 supports arotating tine pick-up mechanism 15 operable to engage a windrow of cropmaterial on the ground and elevate the windrow unto a rearwardlypositioned cross conveyor 20. The pick-up mechanism includes a pluralityof tines 16 and is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No.4,793,129, issuing on Dec. 27, 1988, to Philip J. Ehrhart, thedescriptive portions thereof being incorporated herein by reference.

The cross conveyor 20 is shown to be of the endless draper type having aslatted draper 22 entrained around longitudinally extending, laterallyspaced rollers 23 to form a conveying mechanism to transport theelevated windrow of crop material from the pick-up mechanism 15laterally of the direction of travel. An upright wall 25 positionedimmediately rearwardly of the cross conveyor 20 prevents the windrowfrom passing rearwardly beyond the cross conveyor 20 and maintains thewindrow on the conveyor 20 to assist the lateral conveyance thereof.

A discharge chute 18 is positioned adjacent the left discharge end 26 ofthe cross conveyor 20 to receive the windrow being conveyed thereon. Thedischarge chute 18 is described in greater detail in the aforementionedU.S. Pat. No. 4,793,129, which has been incorporated herein byreference. In typical operation, the windrow of crop material is pickedup from the ground by the pick-up mechanism 15 and conveyed rearwardlyonto the cross conveyor 20, which transversely conveys the windrow ofcrop material into the discharge chute 18 for inversion and redepositingupon the ground laterally of the windrow inverter 10 to the left sidethereof.

A wing extension 30 is supported by the frame 12 adjacent the right end27 of the conveyor 20 opposite of the discharge chute 18. Constructedsimilarly to the cross conveyor 20, the wing extension 30 is providedwith an endless draper 32 entrained around longitudinally extendingrollers 33 to form a similar, yet independent conveying mechanismimmediately outboard of the cross conveyor 20 to the right side thereof.The back wall 25 includes a telescopic portion 35 extendable outboard tothe right thereof for cooperative operation with respect to the wingextension 30 when in the lowered operative position in the same mannerthe back wall 25 is cooperable with the cross conveyor 20. The wingextension includes a discharge end 30a remote from the cross conveyor20.

The distance from the discharge end 30a and the discharge chute 18 isapproximately twice the transverse width of the pick-up mechanism 15 sothat a windrow of crop material directed to the ground off the dischargeend 30a can be placed adjacent to or on top of a windrow previouslydeposited during a previous pass of the windrow inverter 10 from thedischarge chute while operating in the opposite direction. Accordingly,the 18 windrow inverter 10 with a wing extension 30a attached thereto isoperable through reversal of the direction of operation of the crossconveyor 20 on alternate passes across the ground to generally doublethe volume of crop material for each pass of a subsequent harvestingoperation, such as baling.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, the latching mechanism 40 interconnectingthe wing extension 30 and the frame 12 of the windrow inverter 10 canbest be seen. The wing extension 30 includes a subframe 36 whichsupports the longitudinally extending rollers 33 in their respectiveorientations. The subframe 36 is pivotable about a pivot axis coincidingwith the drive roller 33a and further includes support arms 37 extendingdownwardly from the subframe 36 and inwardly toward the frame 12 forengagement with rubber bumpers 39. The latching mechanism 40 includes aspring rod 41 pivotally connected to the actuating arm 37a. The springrod 41 extends in a telescopic manner through a latching bracket 45affixed to the frame 12 of the windrow inverter 10. The spring rod 41includes a first slot 42 cut into the upper surface thereof at anintermediate position and a second slot 43 cut into the underside of thespring rod 41 adjacent the end thereof remote from the actuating arm37a.

A compression spring 44 is concentrically mounted on the spring rod 41and positioned between the latching bracket 45 and the actuating arm 37aso as to be compressible therebetween when the wing extension 30 islowered into its operative position. The latching mechanism 40 alsoincludes an actuating handle 46 attached to a plate 47 pivotallyconnected to the latching bracket 45 by a pivot bolt 52, as best seen inFIGS. 5 and 6. A limit bolt 53 engaged with the latching bracket 45through a slotted opening 54 in the plate 47 limits the amount ofpivotal movement allotted to the pivot plate 47. Both of the bolts 52,53 permit an adjustable movement of the pivot plate 47 toward and awayfrom the latching bracket 45.

The plate 47 carries an inverted bail or yoke 48 encircling the springrod 41 for telescopically supporting the spring rod 41. A tension spring49 interconnecting the actuating handle 46 and a locking plate 51attached to the latching bracket 45 by adjustment bolts 56, 57 biasesthe pivoted plate 47 into a downward position to urge the plate 47against the spring rod 41. The adjustment bolts 56, 57 permit a limitedamount of adjustable movement of the locking plate 51 toward and awayfrom the latching bracket 45 to assure proper engagement with the secondslot 43 in the spring rod 41, as described in greater detail below.

When the wing extension 30 is in the lowered operative position, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 5a, the spring rod 41 has been extended through thelatching bracket 45 and the yoke 48 until the plate 47 has engaged thefirst slot 42 formed in the upper surface of the spring rod 41. In thisposition, the compression spring 44 is compressed between the actuatingarm 37a and the latching bracket 45, and is biasing the wing extension30 upwardly, except that the movement thereof is restrained by theengagement between the plate 47 and the first slot 42 in the spring rod41. Also in this position, the supporting arms 37 contact the rubberbumpers 39 to require a downward force to be exerted on the wingextension 30 to allow the plate 47 to engage the slot 42 and retain thewing extension 30 in the lowered operative position.

The tension spring 49 helps retain the pivoted plate 47 in engagementwith the first slot 42, as does the axial load on the spring rod 41exerted by the compression spring 44 and the compressed rubber bumpers39. In contrast, the movement of the wing extension 30 to the raisedtransport position is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6a, effects a retraction ofspring rod 41 through the latching bracket 45 and yoke 48 until thesecond slot 43 is engaged with a locking plate 51 attached to thelatching bracket 45. In this position, the compression spring 44 isrelaxed, while the tension spring 49 interconnecting the locking plate51 and the actuating handle 46 pulls downwardly on the plate 47 andpushes the spring rod 41 against the locking plate 51 to effectengagement with the second slot 43.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, the operation of the latching mechanism 40can best be seen, beginning with the wing extension 30 in the loweredoperative position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5a with the tension spring49 urging the pivoted plate 47 into engagement with the first slot 42cut into the spring rod 41, the operator must manually move theactuating handle 46 upwardly, as shown in FIG. 5b, against the tensionspring 49 to pivotally move the plate 47 upwardly, thereby disengagingthe plate 47 from the first slot 42. Since the compression spring 41 isbiasing the wing extension 30 in an upward direction, the release of theplate 47 from the first slot 42 results in an immediate upward movementof the wing extension 30, particularly due to the force exerted by thecompressed rubber bumpers 39, sufficiently far so that there can be nore-engagement between the plate 47 and the first slot 42 formed in theupper surface of the spring rod 41 allowing a release of the handle 46to raise the wing extension 30.

Upon release of the actuating handle 46, the tension spring 49 returnsthe handle 46 downwardly, the spring rod 41 becomes trapped between thepivoted plate 47 and the locking plate 51 until the wing extension 30 ismanually raised into the transport position, as shown in FIG. 4, wherebythe second slot 43 engages the locking plate 51. The tension spring 49urging the pivoted plate 47 against the spring arm 41 bias the springarm 41 against the locking plate 51 to effect an automatic engagement ofthe locking plate 51 with the second slot 42 when the wing extension 30has been raised to the proper transport position.

Conversely, a return of the wing extension 30 to the lowered operativeposition requires again a manual raising of the actuating handle 46which effects a disengagement of the locking plate 51 from the secondslot 43 formed in the underside of the spring rod 41 due to the upwardlifting exerted by the yoke 48. The weight of the wing extension 30,since it is not being supported by the operator lowers against thecompression spring 44 and telescopically moves the spring rod 41 throughthe latching bracket 45 and yoke 48 until an equilibration position isattained and/or the supporting arms 37 contact the rubber bumpers 39.

To re-engage the pivoted plate 47 with the first slot 42 formed in theupper side of the spring rod 41, as urged by the tension spring 49 uponthe manual release of the actuating handle 46, the operator must thenmanually exert additional downward movement to the wing extension 30 toeffect a compression of the rubber bumpers 39 until the second slot 43is engaged with the pivoted plate 47, which consequently corresponds tothe wing extension 30 being moved into the operative position, as shownin FIG. 3.

The back wall extension 25a is supported by the frame 12 for slidingmovement relative to the fixed back wall 25. The back wall extension 25acan be manually retracted along the back wall 25 whenever the wingextension 30 is moved into the raised transport position, as shown inFIG. 1. To prevent crop material from falling rearwardly off the wingextension 30, the back wall extension 25a can be manually slid into itsextended position shown in FIG. 2 and in phantom in FIG. 1, when thewing extension 30 is moved into the lowered operative position.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the drive mechanism 60 for the windrowinverter 10, including the pick-up mechanism 15, cross conveyor 20 andwing extension 30, can best be seen. A drive sprocket 62 is connected tothe axle 64, interconnecting the transversely spaced ground wheels 13,by a pin 63 such that the drive sprocket 62 is rotatable with the axle64 when the windrow inverter 10 is moveable over the ground G. Anendless chain 65 entrained around the drive sprocket 62 and a drivensprocket 66 fixed to a jack shaft 67 transfers rotational motion fromthe movement of the wheels 13 and axle 64 over the ground G to thedriven sprocket 66.

A second drive sprocket 69 forming part of a conventional pick-up chaindrive 68 is also mounted on the jack shaft 67 and is rotatabletherewith. As a result, rotational power is transferred from the groundwheels 13 through the chain 65 and chain drive mechanism 68 to effect arotation of the pick-up mechanism 15 in a conventional manner when thewindrow inverter 10 is moved over the ground G. Since the pick-upmechanism 15 need only be operable to elevate a windrow of crop materialfrom the ground G when the windrow inverter 10 is moving, the provisionof a ground drive mechanism 60 to effect a rotation of the pick-upmechanism 15 is operationally acceptable.

A hydraulic drive mechanism 70 is also provided for the windrow inverter10. The hydraulic drive mechanism 70 includes a hydraulic motor 72connected to the tractor (not shown) through the tractor's hydraulicsystem in a conventional manner to provide operational power to thehydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor 72 is connected directly to theright cross conveyor roller 23a to drive directly the rotation thereofand, through frictional engagement with the draper 22, effect a drivingof the cross conveyor 20. A chain coupler 77 interconnects the rightdrive roller 23a of the cross conveyor 20 with the left drive roller 33aof the wing extension 30 to effect a driving of the wing extensiondraper 32 through frictional engagement with the drive roller 33a.

Since the chain coupler drivingly connects the right roller 23a of thecross conveyor 20 directly with the left roller 33a of the wingextension 30, the respective drapers 22, 32 will be operatively drivenin the same direction. The sprockets on the right drive roller 23a andthe left drive roller 33a engaged with the chain coupler 77 are sized tocause a rotation of the wing extension draper 32 at least as fast, andpreferably slightly faster, than the draper 22 to prevent crop materialfrom bunching up between the drapers 22, 32 an/or falling between thedrapers 22, 32.

A stub shaft 73 extends forwardly of the right drive roller 23a of thecross conveyor 20 and terminates in a pinion 74 engageable with a powertransfer mechanism, interconnecting the pinion 74 and the chain drivemechanism 68. The pinion 74 is directly engageable with a transfer gear75 mounted on the jack shaft 67. The transfer gear 75 is slidable alongthe jack shaft 67 and is fixed into a selected position by a set screw76, as indicated in phantom in FIG. 8. If the transfer gear 75 isengaged with the pinion 74, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 8, therotational power delivered from the hydraulic motor 72 is transferreddirectly to the jack shaft 67 and thereby effectively drives the pick-upmechanism 15 independently of the rotation of the ground wheels 13. Oneskilled in the art will readily realize that the engagement of thetransfer gear 75 with the corresponding pinion 74 will require adisengagement between the drive sprocket 62 and the axle 64 by removalof the pin 63 so that the drive sprocket 62 can rotate relative to theaxle 64 as driven through connection to the chain 65 entrained aroundthe driven sprocket 66 fixed to the jack shaft 67.

Under such conditions, the entire operative components of the windrowinverter 10, i.e., the pick-up mechanism 15, the cross conveyor 20, andthe wing extension 30, are hydraulically driven from the hydraulic drivemechanism 70; however, because the pick-up mechanism 15 can be driven inonly one direction to be operable, the drapers 22, 32 would only beoperable in one direction to convey crop material toward the dischargechute 18. To provide the greatest flexibility of operation, it isrecommended that the transfer gear 75 be moved out of engagement withthe pinion 74 so that the pick-up mechanism 15 will be ground drivenwhile the drapers 22, 32 will be hydraulically driven.

The repositioning of the transfer gear 75 to a position shown in phantomin FIG. 8 which is disengaged from the pinion 74 disengages thehydraulic drive mechanism 70 from the ground drive mechanism 60 andpermits the pick-up mechanism 15 to operatively driven from the rotationof the ground wheels 13 as described above, with the drive sprocket 62being pinned to the axle 64 as previously noted. As a result, thehydraulic drive mechanism 70 can be utilized to rotate the drapers 22,32 continuously, while the ground drive mechanism 60 drives the pick-upmechanism 15 only when the windrow inverter 10 is moved over the groundat G.

The shiftable transfer gear 75 also provides the option of driving thecross conveyor 20 and the wing extension 30 through the ground drivemechanism 60. First, however, one skilled in the art will readilyrealize that the hydraulic motor 72 would have to be disconnected and/orremoved from the windrow inverter 10 to prevent damage thereto andreduce the power requirements for driving the drapers 22, 32 to limitsproducible by the ground drive mechanism 60. The rotational powerdelivered by the chain 65 from the ground wheels 13 is transferred viathe jack shaft 67 through the transfer gear 75 and pinion 74 to effect arotation of the cross conveyor draper 22 in one direction only towardthe discharge chute 18. A loosening of the wing extension draper 32relative to its drive roller 33a would prevent the operation of the wingextension 30, if desired to reduce power requirements further. Thisdrive option enables the wing extension 30 and the hydraulic drivemechanism 70 to be an optional feature for the windrow inverter 10.

By incorporating a second movable transfer gear 75a on the opposing sideof the pinion 74 from the first transfer gear 75, such as by forming adouble gear set as shown in the alternative embodiment depicted in FIG.10, the power transfer mechanism can drivingly couple the chain drivemechanism 68 to the cross conveyor 20, and the wing extension draper 32,if properly coupled to the main cross conveyor 20, and permit aselective operation thereof in either opposing lateral direction,depending on which transfer gear 75, 75a is engaged with the pinion 74.

Obviously, both the transfer gears 75, 75a cannot be engaged with thepinion 74 simultaneously; however, a simultaneous dis-engagement of bothtransfer gears 75, 75a would permit the operation of the drapers 22, 32by the hydraulic motor 72 and the pick-up mechanism 15 by the chaindrives 65, 68. A hub spacing the transfer gears 75, 75a apart wouldprevent a simultaneous engagement of both transfer gears 75, 75a withthe pinion 74 and allow sufficient room between the transfer gears 75,75a that the pinion can be placed between the gears 75, 75a withoutengaging either one. One skilled in the art will readily realize thatswitching the direction of movement of the drapers 22, 32 whenmechanically driven from the chain drive mechanism 68 would be bestaccomplished by a shifter (not shown) that would be effective to slidethe transfer gear set along the jack shaft 67 for the selectiveengagement of the appropriate transfer gear 75, 75a with the pinion 74.

Should the pick-up mechanism 15 be driven from the hydraulic motor 72and chain drive 68, instead of from the rotation of the wheel 13 via thechain drive 65, which would be accomplished through disconnection of thesprocket 62, as noted above, the transfer gears 75, 75a would have to beshifted each time the hydraulic motor 72 were reversed to change thedirection of operation of the drapers 22, 32 because of a backwardsoperation of the pick-up mechanism 15 that would otherwise result. Asnoted above, a shifter such as a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) could becoupled to the operation of the hydraulic motor 72 to shiftautomatically the transfer gears 75, 75a with the reversal of thedirection of operation of the hydraulic motor 72.

The hydraulic drive mechanism 70 includes a hydraulic circuit 80,incorporating a hydraulic valve 81 as shown in FIG. 9, which enables thehydraulic motor 72 to be operated in either direction from the tractor(not shown) with independent control over the speed thereof in eitherselected direction of operation. The hydraulic motor 72 has flow portsM₁, M₂ connected to the valve 81. Flow ports P₁, P₂ of the valve 81 areconnected to the tractor hydraulics (not shown) through traditionalhydraulic connectors. A first one-way flow regulator mechanism 82,incorporating a check valve 83, controls the rate of flow of hydraulicfluid from port P₁ through the circuit and back to port P₂, the checkvalve 83 requiring the flow of hydraulic fluid to pass through the flowregulator 82a. Likewise, a second one-way flow regulator mechanism 86,incorporating a check valve 87, controls the rate of flow of hydraulicfluid from port P₂ back through the hydraulic motor 72 and back totractor port P₁, the check valve 87 requiring the flow of fluid throughthe flow regulator 86a.

The check valve 87 permits the flow of fluid to bypass the flowregulator 86a whenever the flow of hydraulic fluid passes from Port P₁to port P₂ as the check valve 83 allows fluid to bypass the flowregulator 82a when the flow of fluid passes from port P₂ back to P₁. Asa result, the rate of flow can be independently set for operation of thehydraulic motor 72 in either direction as the rate of movement of thedrapers 22, 32 to discharge crop material over the wing extension 30 maybe desired to be at a greater speed than the operation of the draper 22to convey crop material into the discharge chute 18.

The hydraulic circuit 80 also includes first and second one-way pressurecompensated relief valves 88, 89 to divert a flow of hydraulic fluidfrom the hydraulic motor 72 when the hydraulic circuit 80 is connectedto a tractor utilizing an open hydraulic circuit. For open-centertractor hydraulic systems, the two pressure compensated relief valves88, 89 are set according to the flow output of the tractor hydraulicsystem with a pressure setting lower than the relief for the tractorhydraulics to divert the flow of excess hydraulic fluid from thehydraulic motor 72 irrespective of the selected direction of fluid flowbetween the tractor ports P₁ and P₂.

When the hydraulic circuit 80 is connected to a tractor (not shown)utilizing a closed hydraulic system, the pressure compensated reliefvalves 88, 89 are closed by setting them to maximum pressure, or atleast at a pressure higher than the tractor system pressure, to allowthe entire flow to pass through the hydraulic motor 72. As a result, thewindrow inverter 10 can be connected to a tractor (not shown) utilizingeither an open or a closed hydraulic system and can providesubstantially infinite control of flow through the hydraulic motor and,thereby, control the speed of operation of the cross conveyor 20 andwing extension 30 independently in either direction, i.e., for movementof the crop material toward the discharge chute 18 or for movement ofthe crop material for discharge off the wing extension 30.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention. The foregoing descriptionillustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however,concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the inventionbroadly as well as in the specific form shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A drivemechanism for a windrow inverter having a frame mobilely supported formovement over the ground; a pick-up mechanism forwardly mounted on saidframe and operable to elevate crop material lying on the ground; and afirst transverse conveyor supported by said frame rearwardly of saidpick-up mechanism and positioned to receive crop material elevated bysaid pick-up mechanism and convey said elevated crop material laterally,the improvement comprising:a first power means operably connected tosaid first conveyor to power the operation thereof for selectivelyconveying crop material thereon in opposing lateral directions, saidfirst power means being disconnectable from said first conveyor; secondpower means operably connected to said pick-up mechanism to power theoperation thereof, said second power means being disconnectable fromsaid pick-up mechanism; and power transfer means interconnecting saidpick-up mechanism and said first conveyor to permit the selectivetransfer of power therebetween when either of said first and secondpower means is disconnected, thereby allowing the selective operation ofboth said pick-up mechanism and said first conveyor from a single sourceof operative power, said power transfer means being disconnectable topermit both said first and second power means to be operably connectedand thereby simultaneously power the operation of said first conveyorand said pick-up mechanism, respectively, from different sources ofoperative power.
 2. The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein said powertransfer means includes a jack shaft rotatably supported by said frame,a first transfer gear mounted on said jack shaft and being operablyconnected to said first power means, and a second transfer gear mountedon said jack shaft and being operably connected to said second powermeans, at least one of said transfer gears being movable along said jackshaft between an engagement position and a non-engagement position to beselectively disengagable from the corresponding said power means.
 3. Thedrive mechanism of claim 2 wherein the positioning of said at least onetransfer gear in said non-engagement position permits said first powermeans to drive said first conveyor independently of the driving of saidpick-up mechanism by said second power means.
 4. The drive mechanism ofclaim 3 wherein said first transfer gear is movable along said jackshaft, said second transfer gear being fixed with respect to movementalong said jack shaft.
 5. The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein saidfirst power means includes a hydraulic motor drivingly connected to saidfirst conveyor.
 6. The drive mechanism of claim 5 wherein said secondpower means comprises a ground drive mechanism operably associated witha ground engaging wheel rotatably supported from said frame, such thatsaid second power means is operable to drive components connectedthereto only when said wheel is rotating to move said windrow inverterover the ground.
 7. The drive mechanism of claim 6 wherein said windrowinverter further has a second transverse conveyor supported by saidframe laterally of and adjacent to said first transverse conveyor toreceive crop material therefrom, said second conveyor being operable todischarge said crop material to the ground laterally of said frame toone side thereof, said first power means being selectively connected tosaid second conveyor to effect operation thereof in the same directionas said first conveyor.
 8. The drive mechanism of claim 7 wherein bothsaid first and second conveyors are draper conveyors having an endlessbelt draper entrained around a pair of transversely spaced rollers, oneroller of said first draper conveyor being connected to an adjacentroller of said second draper conveyor by a chain coupler.
 9. The drivemechanism of claim 8 wherein said one roller of said first draperconveyor has affixed thereto a pinion engageable with said powertransfer means, said power transfer means including a jack shaftrotatably supported by said frame, a first transfer gear mounted on saidjack shaft and being operably connected to said pinion, and a secondtransfer gear mounted on said jack shaft and being operably connected tosaid ground drive mechanism, said first transfer gear being movablealong said jack shaft between an engagement position in which said firsttransfer gear is drivingly engaged with said pinion and a non-engagementposition to be selectively disengagable from said pinion.
 10. The drivemechanism of claim 9 wherein a disconnection of said hydraulic motorfrom said one roller of said first draper conveyor and a movement ofsaid first transfer 75a gear into its engagement position drivinglycoupled to said pinion permits said ground drive mechanism to rotatesaid first and second drapers in a first lateral direction upon movementof said frame over the ground.
 11. The drive mechanism of claim 10wherein said power transfer means further comprises a third transfergear mounted on said jack shaft for movement therealong on the opposingside of said pinion from said first transfer gear between an engagementposition in which said third transfer gear is drivingly connected tosaid pinion and a non-engagement position to be selectively disengagablefrom said pinion, only one of said first and third transfer gears beingpositionable in said engagement position at a time, although both saidfirst and third transfer gears may be simultaneously placed in saidnon-engagement position.
 12. The drive mechanism of claim 11 wherein adisconnection of said hydraulic motor from said one roller of said firstdraper conveyor and a movement of said third transfer gear into itsengagement position drivingly coupled to said pinion and a movement ofsaid first transfer gear into its non-engagement position permits saidground drive mechanism to rotate said first and second drapers in asecond lateral direction opposite to said first lateral direction uponmovement of said frame over the ground.
 13. The drive mechanism of claim9 wherein a disconnection of said ground drive mechanism from saidpick-up mechanism and a movement of said first transfer gear into itsengagement position drivingly coupled to said pinion permits saidhydraulic motor to drivingly power the operation of said pick-upmechanism independently of the movement of said frame over the ground.14. The drive mechanism of claim 9 wherein a movement of said firsttransfer gear into its non-engagement position permits said ground drivemechanism to drive said pick-up mechanism upon movement of said frameover the ground and permits said hydraulic motor to rotate said firstand second drapers in a selected lateral direction independently of themovement of the frame over the ground.
 15. A drive mechanism for awindrow inverter having a frame mobilely supported for movement over theground by rotatable ground engaging wheels; a pick-up mechanismforwardly mounted on said frame and operable to elevate crop materiallying on the ground; a first transverse draper conveyor having a firstpair of laterally spaced rollers rotatably supported by said frame and afirst endless belt draper entrained around said rollers rearwardly ofsaid pick-up mechanism and positioned to receive crop material elevatedby said pick-up mechanism and convey said elevated crop materiallaterally; a second transverse draper conveyor having a second pair oflaterally spaced rollers rotatably supported from said frame and asecond endless belt draper entrained around said rollers laterally ofand adjacent to said first transverse draper conveyor to receive cropmaterial therefrom, said second draper conveyor being operable todischarge said crop material to the ground laterally of said frame toone side thereof, the improvement comprising:a first power meansincluding a hydraulic motor operably connected to one of said first pairof rollers to power the operation of said first draper for selectivelyconveying crop material thereon in opposing lateral directions, saidhydraulic motor being selectively connected to said second draperconveyor by a chain coupler interconnecting one of said first pair ofrollers and an adjacent one of said second pair of rollers to effectoperation of said second draper in the same direction as said firstdraper, said hydraulic motor being disconnectable from said first andsecond draper conveyors; a ground drive mechanism operablyinterconnecting one of said ground engaging wheels and said pick-upmechanism to power the operation thereof in response to the rotationalmovement of said one wheel as said frame moves over the ground, saidground drive mechanism being disconnectable from said pick-up mechanism;and power transfer means interconnecting said pick-up mechanism and saidfirst draper conveyor to permit the selective transfer of powertherebetween when either of said hydraulic motor and said ground drivemechanism is disconnected, thereby allowing the selective operation ofboth said pick-up mechanism and said first and second draper conveyorsfrom a single source of operative power, said power transfer means beingdisconnectable to permit both said hydraulic motor and ground drivemechanism to be operably connected and thereby simultaneously power theoperation of said first and second draper conveyors and said pick-upmechanism, respectively, from different sources of operative power. 16.The drive mechanism of claim 15 wherein said one roller of said firstdraper conveyor drivingly connected to said hydraulic motor has affixedthereto a pinion engageable with said power transfer means, said powertransfer means including a jack shaft rotatably supported by said frame,a first transfer gear mounted on said jack shaft and being operablyconnected to said pinion, and a second transfer gear mounted on saidjack shaft and being operably connected to said ground drive mechanism,said first transfer gear being movable along said jack shaft between anengagement position in which said first transfer gear is drivinglyengaged with said pinion and a non-engagement position to be selectivelydisengagable from said pinion.
 17. The drive mechanism of claim 16wherein the positioning of said first transfer gear in saidnon-engagement position permits said hydraulic motor to drive said firstdraper conveyor independently of the driving of said pick-up mechanismby said ground drive mechanism.
 18. The drive mechanism of claim 17wherein said power transfer means further comprises a third transfergear mounted on said jack shaft for movement therealong on the opposingside of said pinion from said first transfer gear between an engagementposition in which said third transfer gear is drivingly connected tosaid pinion and a non-engagement position to be selectively disengagablefrom said pinion, only one of said first and third transfer gears beingpositionable in said engagement position at a time, although both saidfirst and third transfer gears may be simultaneously placed in saidnon-engagement position.
 19. The drive mechanism of claim 18 wherein adisconnection of said hydraulic motor from said one roller of said firstdraper conveyor and a movement of said third transfer gear into itsengagement position drivingly coupled to said pinion and a movement ofsaid first transfer gear into its non-engagement position permits saidground drive mechanism to rotate said first and second drapers in alateral direction opposite to the lateral direction of movement of saidfirst and second draper conveyors when said first transfer gear is inits engagement position and said third transfer gear is in itsnon-engagement position upon movement of said frame over the ground. 20.The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first and third transfergears are conical gears engageable with a conical pinion, said secondtransfer gear being a sprocket compatible with said ground drivemechanism.
 21. A drive mechanism for a windrow inverter having a framemobilely supported for movement over the ground by rotatable groundengaging wheels; a pick-up mechanism forwardly mounted on said frame andoperable to elevate crop material lying on the ground; a firsttransverse draper conveyor having a first pair of laterally spacedrollers rotatably supported by said frame and a first endless beltdraper entrained around said rollers rearwardly of said pick-upmechanism and positioned to receive crop material elevated by saidpick-up mechanism and convey said elevated crop material laterally; asecond transverse draper conveyor having a second pair of laterallyspaced rollers rotatably supported from said frame and a second endlessbelt draper entrained around said rollers laterally of and adjacent tosaid first transverse draper conveyor to receive crop materialtherefrom, said second draper conveyor being operable to discharge saidcrop material to the ground laterally of said frame to one side thereof,the improvement comprising:a first power means including a hydraulicmotor operably connected to one of said first pair of rollers to powerthe operation of said first draper for selectively conveying cropmaterial thereon in opposing lateral directions, said hydraulic motorbeing selectively connected to said second draper conveyor by a chaincoupler interconnecting one of said first pair of rollers and anadjacent one of said second pair of rollers to effect operation of saidsecond draper in the same direction as said first draper, said hydraulicmotor being disconnectable from said first and second draper conveyors;a ground drive mechanism operably interconnecting one of said groundengaging wheels and said pick-up mechanism to power the operationthereof in response to the rotational movement of said one wheel as saidframe moves over the ground, said ground drive mechanism beingdisconnectable from said pick-up mechanism; power transfer meansinterconnecting said pick-up mechanism and said first draper conveyor topermit the selective transfer of power therebetween when either of saidhydraulic motor and said ground drive mechanism is disconnected, saidpower transfer means being disconnectable to permit both said hydraulicmotor and ground drive mechanism to be operably connected; and said oneroller of said first draper conveyor drivingly connected to saidhydraulic motor having affixed thereto a pinion engageable with saidpower transfer means, said power transfer means including a jack shaftrotatably supported by said frame, a first transfer gear mounted on saidjack shaft and being operably connected to said pinion, and a secondtransfer gear mounted on said jack shaft and being operably connected tosaid ground drive mechanism, said first transfer gear being movablealong said jack shaft between said engagement position in which saidfirst transfer gear is drivingly engaged with said pinion and anon-engagement position to be selectively disengagable from said pinion.22. The drive mechanism of claim 21 wherein the positioning of saidfirst transfer gear in said non-engagement position permits saidhydraulic motor to drive said first draper conveyor independently of thedriving of said pick-up mechanism by said ground drive mechanism. 23.The drive mechanism of claim 22 wherein said power transfer meansfurther comprises a third transfer gear mounted on said jack shaft formovement therealong on the opposing side of said pinion from said firsttransfer gear between an engagement position in which said thirdtransfer gear is drivingly connected to said pinion and a non-engagementposition to be selectively disengagable from said pinion, only one ofsaid first and third transfer gears being positionable in saidengagement position at a time, although both said first and thirdtransfer gears may be simultaneously placed in said non-engagementposition.
 24. The drive mechanism of claim 23 wherein a disconnection ofsaid hydraulic motor from said one roller of said first draper conveyorand a movement of said third transfer gear into its engagement positiondrivingly coupled to said pinion and a movement of said first transfergear into its non-engagement position permits said ground drivemechanism to rotate said first and second drapers in a lateral directionopposite to the lateral direction of movement of said first and seconddraper conveyors when said first transfer gear is in its engagementposition and said third transfer gear is in its non-engagement positionupon movement of said frame over the ground.
 25. The drive mechanism ofclaim 24 wherein said first and third transfer gears are conical gearsengageable with a conical pinion, said second transfer gear being asprocket compatible with said ground drive mechanism.